Tear away athletic jersey and undergarment

ABSTRACT

A novelty clothing piece, an athletic jersey, having a front side which is readily detached to expose an undergarment with vertical black and white stripes indicating the shirt worn by a referee or official of an athletic contest. The observer or participant in an athletic contest may then call a penalty or rule infraction to the entertainment of fellow observers of the athletic contest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to clothing, and more particularly, to novelty clothing wherein the front side of an athletic jersey is detached to expose a shirt with vertical stripes indicating a shirt worn by a referee. The novelty clothing is utilized to change the role of a player or observer of an athletic contest to that of a referee upon removing the front of the jersey thereby revealing the striped referee's shirt. A kit comprising the jersey, a two-sided hat and flags is also disclosed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Fans of sports teams often observe games in person or on television. They may dress in the clothing of their favorite team, often wearing jerseys having numbers of favorite players. These sports are particularly team sports such as football, hockey, soccer, basketball, etc. Many fans are so involved in game they critique the coaches, players and the playing of the game as well as the officiating of the game by the officials or referees. An observer may disagree with the call of the rule infraction, or may witness a rule infraction that the official or referee misses.

There is a need for an article of clothing, for example, a jersey that can be quickly changed into a referee's uniform so that the fan observing an athletic contest may make the proper call or at least his/her interpretation of a rule infraction or challenge the penalty called by an official. This could be accomplished live at a sporting contest, or watching a sporting contest on television. This action is mainly performed for the fan's entertainment value, and not to be regarded as interference with the athletic contest. There is a need for an athletic jersey with a tear away front portion which exposes a striped referee's jersey as an undergarment, as well as a hat with two portions, one portion having the color and indicia of the fan's favorite team facing forward, and an opposite portion having the color and indicia of a referee's hat so that the fan wearing the hat may switch the hat accordingly and tear off the front portion of the jersey exposing the striped referee's garment to play the role of the referee by calling a rule infraction.

The related art does not show the above-described tear off athletic jersey. U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,848 discloses an athletic jersey comprising a body portion, having an outside that is generally uniform color, with a color changing panel secured to the outside of the body having a different color than that of the first color. A flap or panel covers the color changing panel so that it may be removed without removing and reversing the jersey to show a different color. Jerseys of different colors are required for practicing team sports so that an opposing team may be identified.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,274 discloses an athletic jersey having an inner shell and an outer shell. The outer shell comprises front and rear panels, having one color on the outside and another color on the inside, which is the same as the color of the inner shell. The panels may be attached together over the shoulders when the one color is exposed and the panels may be detached so as to hang down from a midriff section of a garment, when the other color is to be exposed. This type of garment, similar to the garment described on the above reference, allows for the segregation of opponents in the practice of team sports.

In view of the foregoing and other related art, there is no disclosure of a jersey having a first body portion and first color, with first and second sides that are readily detachable from each other and a second body portion having a first side with stripes of a second and third color attached to the second side of the first body portion so that the first side of the first body portion can be readily detached to expose the striped colors of a referee.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an athletic jersey having a first body portion with a front side and second side wherein the front side is detachable for quick release. The first body portion has a first color. A second body portion is disposed between the front side and the second side of the first body portion and has second and third colors which are typically black and white with vertically oriented stripes, indicating the clothing of a referee or an official of an athletic contest. The wearer of the jersey is an observer or participant in the athletic contest and may, for entertainment value, react to a penalty or rule infraction in the athletic contest by imitating a referee and tearing off the front side of the jersey exposing the black and white vertically striped referee's shirt and then announce the penalty or rule infraction, including throwing a penalty flag as a referee in a football game. The jersey is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be used as interference in the athletic contest. A method is disclosed as well as a kit including a bidirectional hat that is worn by the observer or participant in the athletic contest, the tear away jersey and pocket flags that can be thrown by the observer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will be appreciated and be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a close-up view of fasteners of FIG. 1 of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a close-up view of fasteners of FIG. 2 of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a close-up of one view of fasteners of the FIG. 2 shown in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2D is a close-up of view of fasteners in FIG. 2 running the continuous periphery of a garment in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a first body portion having first and second sides and a second body portion in one embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the garment in the present invention with a first body portion partially removed from the second body portion exposing a referee's shirt, pockets and flags in the pockets that can be removed by the observer.

FIG. 5 is a view of a referee throwing a flag which was removed from a pocket of a second body portion of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an athlete wearing a jersey to which an upper body garment in accordance with the present invention is shown. Jersey 2 has a first body portion 4 having a front side 6 and second side 8. Typically, jersey 2 will have numbers on the front side 6 and second side 8 and a first color. Jersey 2 includes a neck hole 10 through where the head of the wearer extends and arms or sleeves 12 and 14 on the front side 6 and arms or sleeves 16 and 18 on the second side 8, respectively. Jersey 2 can be fabricated without distinct sleeves 12, 14, 16 and 18. Further, jersey 2 can be configured to be of different designs and neck openings, for example, jersey 2 may resemble a jersey worn in team sports other than football, which is depicted herein. Soccer, rugby and basketball jerseys may be worn or a jersey for any sport wherein the official or referee in the sport wears a distinctive shirt, that is diverse from the first color of jersey 2.

Devices for attaching the front side 6 and second side 8 are shown in FIGS. 1-3. The devices, while attaching the front side 6 and second side 8 allow for quick detachment or tearing away of the front side 6 from second side 8.

A second body portion 20 is shown in the exploded view of one embodiment of the invention in FIG. 3. The second body portion 20 is designed as a referee or official's jersey having second and third colors that are typically white and black oriented in vertical stripes. Second body portion 20 may have one or more pockets 22 and is worn with a defined neck hole 24. Front side 6 has an inside 26 and outside 28 of the jersey. Further, second side 8 has inside 30 and outside 32. Insides 26 and 30 contact second body portion 20 including sleeves 34 and 36 of second body portion 20.

Body portion 4 is separated into substantially two halves having front side 6 and second side 8. First body portion 4 is separated on the inside and outside of sleeves 12, 14, 16 and 18, on the part of body portion 4 that rests on the shoulder of the wearer and underneath the sleeves running the length of body portion 4 to its end 38. When divided, each half, the front side 6 and second side 8 have peripheries 40 and 42. Optionally periphery 41 runs at the waist level of front side 6, parallel and above end 38, if it is desired, to remove front side 6 at the location of periphery 41, which is typically placed at the level of the waist of the wearer. Second body portion 20 has backside 43 attached to inside 30 of second side 8. It is attached by conventional means, for example, by sewing.

Accordingly, front side 6 and second side 8 are attached together with front side 6 covering second body portion 20.

Devices 44 for attaching front side 6 and second side 8 may include any device that can join the two garments so that front side 6 and second side 8 can be quickly detached or separated so that front side 6 is removed thereby exposing second body portion 20 having second and third colors in a vertically striped design indicating clothing of a referee or game official. Devices 44, for example, can be fasteners shown in FIG. 2A wherein the head of one base snap-fits into the receptacle of a second base for secure attachment while allowing detachment by pulling or tearing of front side 6. Devices 44 are placed intermittently along the peripheries 40 and 42 of front side 6 and second side 8. Additional attachment devices include hook and loop fasteners 48 as shown in FIG. 2B and magnets 50 inserted in holders 52. The hook and loop fasteners may run the entire length of peripheries 40 and 42 as shown in FIG. 2D at meeting 53 of the peripheries or may be spaced intermittently. The magnet holders placed on front side 6 are aligned with magnets and holders placed on second side 8. As shown in FIG. 2C, the magnets attract each other and therefore the front side 6 and second side 8 are attached. The paired, aligned, magnets are simply pulled apart for separation. The magnets are inserted in pockets which are sealed or readily opened by conventional devices, such as hooks and loop fasteners. Another attachment device is one or more zippers which are not shown, that runs along periphery 40 and 42 for securing the front side 6 and second side 8 together. When two zippers are employed, the zipper track may end at neck hole 10. One zipper may be employed wherein the track is positioned around neck hole 10. Neck holes 10 and 24 may be any shape or designed as desired.

Hat 54 is an accessory to jersey 2. Hat 54 has two portions, 56 and 58 respectively that are opposed to each other. Hat 54 has two forward facing bills 60 and 62 matching the color of the portion of the hat where each bill is attached. One portion of hat 54 has the same color and identifying indicia of jersey 2, which is typically the fan's or wearer's favorite team. The second, opposed portion of the hat has the color, typically black or white, or combination thereof to match second body portion 20, the referee's black and white striped shirt. Hat 54 and jersey 2 are placed together in kit 64 and are worn for entertainment value while observing or participating in an athletic contest.

The kit, comprising hat 54 and jersey 2 is typically worn by a sports fan or even participant in a team sport such as football, hockey, soccer, basketball, etc. An observer of a game, whether at the athletic field or observing the game on television, may follow the game and his or her favorite team and object to a rule violation in the game or announce a rule violation if the referee or official working the athletic contest does not. In calling a rule infraction or penalty, the observer tears off front side 6 of jersey 2 by detaching fasteners 44 thereby exposing second body portion 20, which is a portion of a shirt having second and third colors, typically white and black stripes indicating the clothing of a referee. Upon removing front side 6, the observer or participant may change the orientation of hat 54 from a position wherein a portion 56, having the observer's favorite team colors and indicia of identification is reversed so that portion 58 having the colors and indicia of identification of a referee is facing forward. Therefore, the observer would then have a striped shirt and matching hat, similar to that of a referee so that the observer may then call the penalty or rule infraction to the delight of friends and bystanders as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. Pockets 22 on second body portion 20 may hold a flag 66 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the observer may drop or throw the flag to the ground indicating a rule violation or indicating a challenge to an official's ruling in the athletic contest. The novelty kit may contain other devices, for example, a whistle and lanyard, and a notebook and writing instrument for recording infractions. The components of the kit, the jersey, hat and flags, allow the fan or observer to become involved in an interactive manner thereby increasing the interest, enthusiasm and enjoyment of the observer and friends observing the contest.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the observation of a sporting contest and ruling on plays in the contest are formulated in a method wherein an observer or participant wears athletic jersey 2 as described herein. The observer also wears hat 54 having bidirectional bills 60, 62 and first and second portions 56 and 58 matching the bills accordingly with the color of the observer's favorite team. When the observer or participant notices a play or procedure in the athletic contest that would be subject to a foul or penalty, the observer then removes the first side of the first body portion exposing the second body portion with the stripes of second and third colors similar to a shirt worn by a referee or official. The observer changes the orientation of the hat so that the forward facing portion of the hat matches the stripes of the second and third color of the second body portion. The observer may then remove a flag or flags from one or more pockets on the second body portion and throw the flag indicating a foul or penalty in the contest has occurred. The observer may then entertain friends and onlookers with the explanation of a penalty and why it is being called on the play in the athletic contest.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principals of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. An athletic jersey comprising: (a) a first body portion having a front side and a second side and an inside and outside having a uniform first color, (b) the first and second sides being readily detachable, (c) a second body portion having stripes of a second and third color attached to the second side of the first body portion, and (d) the first side of the first body portion attached to the second side wherein the second body portion is placed between the first and second sides of the first body portion.
 2. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein the front side of the first body portion is attached to the second side of the first body portion by connecting devices that readily separate and the second body portion placed between the front and second sides of the first body portion.
 3. The athletic jersey according to claim 2 wherein the connecting devices are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, zippers and paired, aligned, magnets.
 4. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein the second and third colors of the second body portion are white and black.
 5. The third colors of the second body portion are oriented in alternatively spaced stripes of black and white color.
 6. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein one or more pockets are placed on the second body portion.
 7. The athletic jersey according to claim 6 wherein the one or more pockets hold a penalty flag.
 8. The athletic jersey according to claim 3 wherein the connecting devices are placed on a periphery of the first and second sides of the first body portion.
 9. The athletic jersey according to claim 8 wherein the hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners and paired, aligned magnets are placed intermittently on the periphery of the first and second sides of the first body portion for releasably engaging the sides.
 10. The athletic jersey according to claim 3 wherein the hook and loop fasteners are placed continuously on the periphery of the first and second sides of the first body portion for releasably engaging the sides.
 11. The athletic jersey according to claim 1 wherein the second body portion is attached to the second side of the first body portion by conventional means.
 12. A method of observing a sporting contest and ruling on plays in the contest as an official or referee comprising the steps of: (a) wearing an athletic jersey having: (b) a first body portion having a front side and a second side and an inside and outside having a uniform first color, (c) the first and second sides being readily detachable, (d) a second body portion having a first side, said body portion having stripes of a second and third color attached to the second side of the first body portion, (e) wearing a hat with bi-directional bills with first and second portions, with the first portion matching the first color and identifying indicia of the first body portion of the athletic jersey oriented forward and the second portion matching the stripes of a second and third color of the second body portion, (f) observing a play in the contest that would be subject to a foul or penalty, removing the first side of the first body portion, exposing the second body portion with the stripes of a second and third colors, (g) changing the orientation of the hat so that the portion of the hat matching the second body portion with stripes of a second and third color is oriented forward, and (h) removing a flag from a pocket on the second body portion and throwing it indicating a foul or penalty in the contest has occurred.
 13. A kit for observing an athletic contest comprising: (a) an athletic jersey having a body portion having a front side and a second side and an inside and outside having a uniform first color, (b) the first and second sides being readily detachable, (c) a second body portion having stripes of a second and third color attached to the second side of the first body portion, and (d) the first side of the first body portion attached to the second side wherein the first side of the second body portion is placed between the first and second sides of the first body portion.
 14. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the front side of the first body portion is attached to the second side of the first body portion by connecting devices that readily separate and the second body portion placed between the front and second sides of the first body portion.
 15. The kit according to claim 14 wherein the connecting devices are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, zippers and paired, aligned, magnets.
 16. The kit according to claim 14 wherein the second and third colors of the second body portion are white and black.
 17. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the second and third colors of the second body portion are oriented in alternatively spaced stripes of black and white.
 18. The kit according to claim 13 wherein one or more pockets are placed on the second body portion.
 19. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the one or more pockets hold a penalty flag.
 20. The kit according to claim 15 wherein the connecting devices are placed on a periphery of the first and second sides of the first body portion.
 21. The kit according to claim 15 wherein the hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners and paired, aligned magnets are placed intermittently on the periphery of the first and second sides of the first body portion for releasably engaging the sides.
 22. The kit according to claim 18 wherein the hook and loop fasteners are placed continuously on the periphery of the first and second sides of the first body portion for releasably engaging the sides.
 23. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the second body portion is attached to the second side of the first body portion by conventional means.
 24. The kit according to claim 13 including a hat having first and second portions, the first portion with a bill and first color and identifying indicia of the first body portion of the athletic jersey and the second portion matching the stripes of a second and third color of the second body portion. 